Jewelry clasp



Feb- 4, 1954 P. SPERANZA ETAL 3,120,042

JEWELRY CLASP Filed March 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb 4, l1964 P. SPERANZA ETAL 3,120,042

JEWELRY CLASP Filed March 3l, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wee/mgm United States Patent Oilice 3,120,042 Patented Feb. 4, 1964 3,120,942 JEWELRY CLASP eter Speranza, North Bellmore, and Gabriel Braun, Forest Hills, NSY., assignors to The Richelieu Corp., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 15,936 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-123) This invention relates to a jewelry clasp element especially useful for holding the ends of two or more strands of beads or pearls.

The ends of the strands of plural-strand necklaces made up of beads, pearls and similar decorative objects are ordinarily attached to the clasp elements by means of a short chain or a link which is atlxed to thevclasp element. For example, the string, wire or monotilament on which the pearls or beads are strung may have a metal hook aiixed at each end and this hook is clamped onto one of the links which is affixed to the clamp element. In this structure, (l) the end of the string or wire on which the beads are strung is visible in the hook means, (2) the hook and link attachment to the clasp element are conspicuously different from the beads on the string, and (3) the skilled labor required to x the ends of the strings to the clasp element is substantial. This loose structured attachment also allows tangling of the strands especially when there are three or more strands.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a clasp element to which the ends of strings containing pearls or beads can be directly attached thereby providing an improved appearance with no string ends sowing and a tighter attachment which is resistant to tangling, etc.

Among other objects of the invention is to provide a clasp element which can be more quickly attached to an end of one or more strings of pearls or beads which it is to hold.

The term string in the specification and claims is used in its broad sense as a means for holding beads and pearls and includes threads, fibrous strings, multiiilament strings and wires and monolaments of nylon, rayon, Dacron, wire, etc.

These objects are obtained by providing a metal clasp element with two or more intertting parts connected togetner at one edge. A first part contains openings large enough to admit the strings and small enough to prevent passage of the knotted or otherwise enlarged string therethrough so that the end portion of the string can be inserted in the hole and held there by a knot at the end. The second part of the clasp extends at an angle with respect to the iirst part viewed along the common edge. One of the parts contains the eyelet or means for attaching a hook or a male or female part of a two part clasp thereto. At least one of the two parts which face each other is chamfered adjacent the orifices of the first part to accommodate the knots of the strings.

The parts of the clasp elements of the invention may be made of metal or plastic or any similar material which can be molded or shaped and later folded together and held by its resilient or similar properties in closed position.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a conventional type of clasp element on which the present invention is an improvement.

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of the improved type of clasp element in use.

FIG. 3 is a side View of the clasp of FIG. 2 showing the two parts thereof in open position.

FIG. 3A is a vertical cross sectional view of the clasp or" FIG. 2 with the parts in open position.

FIG. 3B is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3A but showing the clasp in closed position with a string end attached thereto and including one of they beads on said string.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modied form of clasp of the invention.

FIG. 4A is a vertical cross sectional View of the clasp of FIG. 4 showing the end bead of an attached string of beads.

FIGS. 5 and 5A are views similiar to FIGS. 4 and 4A respectively of another modified form of clasp of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of still another modified form of the clasp of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a vertical cross sectional view of the clasp of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 7A are views similar to FIGS. 4 and 4A, respectively, of still another modified form of the clasp of the invention. v

FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view taken of another modified form of the invention showing one the strings for beads in place.

FIG. 8A is an end View of the clasp of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of yet another modi-` iied form of the clasp of the invention.

FIG. 9A is a vertical cross sectional view of the clasp of FIG. 9.

The clasp elements usually provided for plural strand necklaces are illustrated in FIG. l and comprise the bar 1t) on which are integrally formed the similar eyelets 11 for holding the hooks 12 and the eyelet 13 for holding a fastener hook 14 or (at the opposite end of the necklace) a chain containing spaced pearls (not shown) which will catch on hook 14. Each of the hook elements 12 comprises a cup or disk shaped base 15 with a hole in the center through which the end of the string of the bead or pearl strand is passed and knotted. The knots and/ or ends of the string 16 are not completely hidden by the cups or disk elements 1S and are clearly visible from at least one side with respect to the element 10.

FIG. 2 shows how a clasp device of the present invention looks when assembled. The strands of beads or pearls 18 on strings 16 are held close to the lower side of plate 2l of the element 2() and no strings or links show between the beads 18 and the clasp element 20. This effect is obtained by the structures such as shown in FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B, and also in FIGS. 4, 4A, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, and 7A. In FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B, for example, the rst part 22 is a rectilinear bar hollowed out at the bottom face 23. Extending from the center portion of top surface 24 of the upper part is an eyelet 25 adapted to receive a clasp member such as hook similar to hook 14 of FIG. 1. The second part 21 is attached along one longitudinal edge to the part 22. The part 21 contains the openings 34 which are countersunk on one or both sides to form the chamfers 3S and 36. The chamfer 35 holds the knot of string 16, whereas chamfer 36 may be provided to permit a closer approach of bead 18. Slots 37 may be provided in the part 21 so that a previously knotted string end may be slid into the orifices 34. The slots 37 provide an added labor-saving feature. It will be noted, however, that the devices of the invention do not have to include the slots for the holes, as the gap in the open device allows the holes to be threaded by a needle, for example. When the part 21 of FIGS. 3 and 3A is clamped into position against part 22 as shown in FIG. 3B, the slots 37 are closed at least suciently to prevent removal of the strings.

Instead of providing a two sided clamping clasp as shown in FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B the clasp means may take any desired conguration provided the parts may be separated to permit threading of the strings of beads or pearls and then clamped together to hold the string ends securely in position. One four sided arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 4A. In this modification the upper surface 42 contains the eyelet 43 integrally formed thereon. The bottom side 44 includes a plurality of slots 45 for receiving the strings 16 and the side 46 is temporarily sprung outwardly to permit threading of the strings 16. The side 46 may also include a rounded, internal, edge-flange 47 to center the strings 16, when side 46 is forced into place after inserting the strands.

In the rectilinear, box-shaped clamp Sti of FIG. 5, the lower side comprises two portions 51 and 52. Portion 52 contains slots 53 which are closed when the portions 51 and 52 are bent inwardly to bring the inner sides into juxtaposition.

FIGS. 6 and 6A show another clamp means 69 having a triangular cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional View of FIG. 6A is on a slightly enlarged scale. In this modification a first triangular side 61 contains the male part 62 of a male and female type of fastener. In fact, any type of a two part fastener may be employed with the clasp element of the invention. In FIGS. 6 and 6A the male fastener element 62 is soldered or welded to side 61 at 63. The second side 64 of triangular clasp 61) contains slots 65 for receiving the strings 16. The third side 66 is shorter than the side of the finished triangular bar, as side 66, in closing, tits inside the side 64 and shortens the effective length of slots 65 as well as closing these slots.

The clasp of the invention may be made cylindrical in shape as well as prismatic. FIGS. 7 and 7A show a circular bar 70. The bar 70 has one open gap 72 therein forming two edges 73 and 74. One of the edges 73 contains slots 75 which may contain chamfers if desired. The gapped edges 73 and 74 may be closed as shown in FIG. 7A to provide a perfect cylindrically shaped clasp, or if desired the ends 73 and 74 could be closed spirally to overlap one another.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 8A a device which partially embraces the ends of the last pearls of the strings is provided. Thus, the two parts 82 and 83 are attached or hinged together at the top edge 81. The parts 82 and 83 are substantially mirror images of each other, each containing a series of arcuate indentations 84 each adapted to surround a portion of a bead 18. At least one of the parts 82 and 83 has also an internal indentation 86 to accommodate the end knots of the several strands of beads or pearls. The indentation 86 is connected to the arcuate indentations by a series of slots 87 each connecting the indentation 86 to an indentation 84 when the parts 82 and 83 are tightly clamped together.

The modified form of device 90 shown in FIGS. 9 and 9A comprises two wire-like frame portions 91 and 92 adapted to retain but display the end pearls or beads of the strands of pearls held by the device. The wire frames 90 comprise curved decorative leaves 93, 94 which are curved to embrace portions of the pearls 18' without concealing any substantial part of the surface thereof. The lower edge 96 of the wire frame 91 or 92 is adapted to lit into the space between pearls 13 and 18' and this space may include a knotted portion of the strings on which the pearls are strung. The wire frames 91 and 92 are held together by a suitable catch mechanism as illustrated at 98, 99.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our US. application Serial No. 2,958, filed January 18, 1960.

The features and principles underlying the invention described above in connection with specific exemplitications will suggest to those skilled in the art many other modifications thereof. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims shall not be limited to any specific feature or details thereof.

We claim:

l. A clasp element for plural strand jewclry articles adapted to hold one end of at least two strands of beads or pearls at one side thereof,

said clasp element being formed of a unitary metallic piece and comprising a first part and a second part of substantially the same length and width,

said second part being integral with the first part along a first pair of side-longitudinal edges of the two parts, said first and second parts being of substantial thickness and each containing facing surfaces of substantial equal width and length diverging with respect to each other from said first side-longitudinal edges,

each of said facing surfaces containing substantial proportions of planar areas adapted to contact each other when the parts are pressed together to eliminate the divergency,

at least one of said parts comprising at least two slots extending inwardly from a free edge thereof adapted to accommodate the strands of at least two strings of beads, one part of a two-part fastener attached to said clasp element intermediate the ends thereof and extending in the opposite direction with respect to said slots,

said part containing said slots comprising at least two countersunk regions on the facing surface thereof,

one of said countershunk regions surrounding the interior portion of each of said slots whereby to accommodate knoted endings of the strings of beads when the parts are closed on each other.

2. The clasp element as claimed in claim l, said part containing the slots comprising a second set of countersunk regions at the opposite end of each of said slots with repsect to the first named countersunk regions, each of said second set of countersunlt regions being adapted to surround a portion of a bead.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,336 Prevot Aug. 8, 1922 1,646,999 Goodridge Oct. 25, 1927 1,831,397 Shatkin Nov. 10, 1931 2,047,432 Roedelheimer et al. July 14, 1936 2,586,758 Zerr Feb. 19, 1952 2,644,992 McFarland July 14, 1953 2,754,572 Johnson July 17, 1956 2,893,095 Dohn July 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 38,969 Germany Mar. 23, 1887 958,784 Germany Feb. 2l, 1957 557,462 Italy Feb. 15, 1957 ifm. i 

1. A CLASP ELEMENT FOR PLURAL STRAND JEWELRY ARTICLES ADAPTED TO HOLD ONE END OF AT LEAST TWO STRANDS OF BEADS OR PEARLS AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID CLASP ELEMENT BEING FORMED OF A UNITARY METALLIC PIECE AND COMPRISING A FIRST PART AND A SECOND PART OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LENGTH AND WIDTH, SAID SECOND PART BEING INTEGRAL WITH THE FIRST PART ALONG A FIRST PAIR OF SIDE-LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE TWO PARTS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND PARTS BEING OF SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS AND EACH CONTAINING FACING SURFACES OF SUBSTANTIAL EQUAL WIDTH AND LENGTH DIVERGING WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER FROM SAID FIRST SIDE-LONGITUDINAL EDGES, EACH OF SAID FACING SURFACES CONTAINING SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTIONS OF PLANAR AREAS ADAPTED TO CONTACT EACH OTHER WHEN THE PARTS ARE PRESSED TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE THE DIVERGENCY, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PARTS COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO SLOTS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM A FREE EDGE THEREOF ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATE THE STRANDS OF AT LEAST TWO STRINGS OF BEADS, ONE PART OF A TWO-PART FASTENER ATTACHED TO SAID CLASP ELEMENT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND EXTENDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID SLOTS, SAID PART CONTAINING SAID SLOTS COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO COUNTERSUNK REGIONS ON THE FACING SURFACE THEREOF, ONE OF SAID COUNTERSHUNK REGIONS SURROUNDING THE INTERIOR PORTION OF EACH OF SAID SLOTS WHEREBY TO ACCOMMODATE KNOTED ENDINGS OF THE STRINGS OF BEADS WHEN THE PARTS ARE CLOSED ON EACH OTHER. 